Evanston Day Nursery is a small not-for-profit early childhood program serving an economically diverse population of families. Our program includes two full-day preschool classrooms for children ages 2 1/2 - 5 and one after-school classroom for children ages 5-9. We are approaching our fifth year of Summer Camp; a theme-based, 3 to 4 week session for children completing Kindergarten - 3rd grade. We serve 80 children annually.
|
|
Our mission at Evanston Day Nursery Association (EDN) is to provide the highest quality of care and education to the children of working parents. This is best accomplished when the population served reflects the racial, ethnic, and economic diversity of our society. We are committed to providing enhanced family support services to further the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of each child.
|
Our philosophy is based in part on the theories of Erik Erikson, a psychologist who asserted that the development of trust is the first milestone in a child’s growth and development. At EDN, we believe that the most important thing we can do for families and children is develop trusting relationships. We use an attachment structure, so that a child knows there is someone special all through the day to keep them safe and meet their needs. We also believe in caring for the “whole" child's emotional, social, physical and cognitive areas and needs.
|
|
Our history is the foundation of who we are today. EDN was founded in 1912 by a group of women to meet the needs of poor, working families. They provided a nurturing, well-staffed day care in the home of a community-minded woman. In October of 1915, EDN was incorporated and became the first day care in Evanston and one of the first in Illinois. The focus remained the same and additional young children and their families were served. In 1955-56, the Visiting Nurses Association donated the land we are now located on at 1835 Grant Street. The house was moved to this location. In 1996-97, the need for Before & After school care became very apparent and the newest building addition was added as well as making the building handicap accessible, meeting ADA standards for public buildings. Throughout our 96 year history, EDN has addressed issues of high unemployment, malnutrition, needs of low-income families, single parenting, after-school care and social justice.
We are very pleased to have educated and assisted so many families and their children since 1912.
|
On April 7, 2008, Front Room Preschool Teacher, Barbara Clear was 1 of 5 teachers awarded the Kohl McCormick Teacher of the Year Award.
Preschool teacher Stephanie Lane-Baker started her 16th year of teaching at EDN this fall. In 2003 she was awarded the Kohl McCormick Teacher of the Year Award and was honored at the Childcare Network of Evanston's Annual Early Childhood Awards in 2002 as an Outstanding Teacher.
|
|
EDN collaborates on several fronts with the Child Care Network of Evanston for the various teacher-trainings and support services offered to centers and the families they serve.
EDN is one of only three preschools that are contracted with the District 65 Pre-K program. Thus, the preschoolers are eligible for early intervention services in developmental areas such as vision and hearing, speech and language therapy, learning and skill acquisition, and social and emotional development. It is an exceptional opportunity to be able to offer services to families who might not otherwise be aware of the need, its’ impact on their child, or to afford a screening on their own.
EDN is also connected with Northwestern University through their Work-Study program to provide a college student to be a tutor and mentor to our school age population.
EDN continues to be a training site for student teachers from the local colleges and a well-visited location for observation of diversity in action; a microcosm of the Evanston community.
|
We very much want your child’s experience at EDN to be an extension of home, whether they are in the preschool program, after school (HomeBASE) or full day summer camp. We believe each child is a unique individual, that children learn through actual experiences and that family is their center. Please feel free to call and schedule a visit, ask questions or volunteer. EDN continually seeks to be an active, vital part of the Evanston Community.
|
|